Aqueduct: Funky Munky Mama will try to make her speed hold

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Favorites are winning at better than a 40-percent clip (119 for 292) on the inner track this winter, and there will be no shortage of short-priced propositions on Thursday. Token Sacrifice (1st race), Surround Sound (2nd), Union Victory (3rd) and Tycoon Cat (9th) are all pegged at even money or lower by Eric Donovan, the New York Racing Association’s Wizard of Odds.

The featured eighth race, a six-furlong allowance/optional claimer for New York-bred fillies and mares at six furlongs, is among the day’s more wide-open events, pitting the speedy Funky Munky Mama against Superior Sarah and the hard-to-gauge Song of Broadway.

The Gary Gullo-trained Funky Munky Mama will look to outsprint Eden Is Burning and Those Lion Eyes early, and then hold off Superior Sarah, who steps up a notch after winning her first-level allowance condition at odds-on for Tom Albertrani.

The X-factor is Song of Broadway, who was an allowance winner here last winter, two starts after being reclaimed by Linda Rice. Song of Broadway went to the sidelines shortly afterward, however, and refused to break from the gate in her comeback Jan. 6.

Bailzee, who began her career with back-to-back wins on the inner track in 2010, was a fast-closing second last time out for Pat Kelly. She would be the prime beneficiary if an enervating pace develops.

Life’s Measure, a four-time winner, rounds out the field. She beat basement-level claimers two starts ago for Jeff Odintz.

Union Victory, who set the pace and finished second in the Xtra Heat overnight stakes first time off a claim by Bruce Levine, breaks from the outside post and is the one to catch and beat against six others in race 3, a $51,000 optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies.

Melpomene, freshened by John Terranova after an off-the-board finish in the $150,000 Brandywine Stakes last fall, is in for the $50,000 claim price, as are Caviar N Champagne, Cute Cadet and World Premier.

Expression and Hurricane Caroline were maiden winners here Jan. 11.

◗ C C’s Pal, winner of the six-furlong Garland of Roses Stakes and the 1 1/8-mile Ladies Handicap earlier at the meet, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.81 Monday, third-fastest of 10 workouts at the distance on the inner track. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. nominated the versatile mare to Saturday’s Affectionately Stakes. The Barbara Fritchie at Laurel (Feb. 18) is also under consideration.